Music Video and Reality Network gets Thumbs Up from Parents Television Council

It’s virtually unheard of in today’s television landscape. A channel programmed with music videos, reality shows and extreme sports receives the seal of approval from the Parents Television Council.

JCTV is filled with contemporary music videos, teen talk and reality shows, movies and extreme sports. According to the latest beta research, nearly one in five young adults 12-24 and adults 18-49 are very interested in watching it. As the only faith-based entertainment channel targeting young adults 13-29, JCTV fills a programming niche for younger audiences.

“JCTV was launched as a response to the millions of people who...
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TBN's Children, Youth Channels Stand Out Among Emerging Networks

They're the foundation of today's television broadcast landscape, the nearly unlimited array of "emerging" or niche networks that run the broad spectrum of channel lineups across America. Over the past ten years scores of special-interest channels have popped up on cable and satellite channel offerings to meet an ever-growing demand from discriminating viewers from all walks of life. And among the most requested niche networks have been faith and inspirational channels.

LYNCHBURG, VA. --- Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the world’s largest inspirational network, has announced the launch of its 24-hour youth channel, JCTV, on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty, which is the largest evangelical university in the world with over 12,000 students on campus and over 48,000 online students globally, launched its own exclusive service in 2006, using state-of-the-art Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology to give students and other on-campus viewers access to a select group of channels wirelessly over their computers or on digital televisions via the Ethernet.

Let’s face it. There’s a lot on television today just made to order for teens and young adults. From the hottest in music videos to the latest in reality programs and extreme sports shows, networks are working overtime to reach out and pull in younger viewers. And right smack in the middle of it all is JCTV, TBN’s 24-hour faith-based network geared for youth. Launched in 2002, JCTV has succeeded in bringing the same intensity and edginess that viewers see on secular youth and music networks into a faith-based setting.

"Our goal from the beginning has been to place JCTV on the cutting edge of cable programming geared for youth," said Brandon Crouch, who with JCTV’s vice president for programming, Mark McCallie, works to create faith-based programming that will appeal to 13-29 year-old viewers. "In fact we’re convinced that JCTV is one of the most exciting and innovative youth-based networks on the air right now. Our 24-hour mix of high-energy Christian music videos, extreme sports shows, and faith-based comedy and entertainment programs has pulled in viewers from all over the world."

McCallie noted that because JCTV has been breaking new ground in faith-based programming, they’ve had to create many of the new shows. "Traditionally there has been very little on television targeting this age group in the faith-based category, so we’ve had to be real creative," he said. "We’ve had to go out and create shows that are edgy and relevant to youth, while at the same time being clean and family-friendly, and communicating the faith message that TBN is all about."

That programming includes such popular fare as Xtreme Life, a full-tilt sports show that rivals anything on television. "I’ve been on location for some of these video shoots," said Crouch, "and let me tell you they’re the real deal." The difference, he added, is that the athletes are committed Christians "who offer an uplifting and encouraging message to viewers."

There are also hot shows like TX10, an urban music program hosted by Grammy nominated recording artist T-Bone, and fast-paced reality-based programs like Travel the Road, which follows two young people on their globe-trotting missions adventures. "These kids are hip, they’re committed, and they’re terrific models for young viewers who are looking for purpose in life," said McCallie.

Paul Crouch Jr., Vice President of Administration at TBN noted, "There’s a massive youth audience out there that readily aligns itself with JCTV’s innovative faith-based programming. They applaud it. They return to it. They tell their friends about it."

Bob Higley, Vice President of Cable and Satellite Relations at TBN, pointed out that cable surveys show JCTV is broadcasting what today’s youth want to see. "We found that JCTV has a high interest rating among teens age 12 to 17," said Higley. "In fact, 27 percent of the teens in one report indicated significant interest in watching JCTV—higher even than several other youth-based networks on cable."

Higley explained that the timing couldn’t be better for cable providers to launch JCTV in order to offer a unique and popular channel targeting the nation’s significant faith-based community. "Parents are excited about JCTV because they know it’s safe for their kids to watch, and teens want it because it’s exciting and they can identify with it," he said.

He added that JCTV is part of TBN’s broader vision of providing a wide range of faith-based networks for different audiences. "The success of the cable industry is simply the idea of offering a variety of niche channels to a diverse audience," he said. "There is a need today to duplicate that idea by offering niche channels for the enormous faith community in America. TBN has the resources to make this idea a reality."